Fig. 7: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) visibility windows to observe 1998 KY26. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) visibility windows to observe 1998 KY26.

From: Hayabusa2 extended mission target asteroid 1998 KY26 is smaller and rotating faster than previously known

Fig. 7: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) visibility windows to observe 1998 KY26.

Flux predictions (in μJy) for 1998 KY26 for possible future JWST-MIRI (JWST's mid-infrared imager) observations. Top: Fast rotating model (FRM) fluxes for the specific MIRI bands for the years 2027 to 2029, JWST visibility windows are indicated by the thick blue and red lines. Bottom: Thermophysical model (TPM) flux predictions for two different sizes, 30 m and 11 m, assuming the SAGE#1 spin properties, for a wide range of thermal inertias, and for two epochs (left: 2028-Mar-28, right: 2028-Oct-01). The MIRI S/N = 10 sensitivity limits for 30 min integration per filter (assuming a medium sky background) are shown as solid black lines. JWST-MIRI measurements would allow to settle the size question and to constrain the object’s thermal properties well before the Hayabusa2# arrival in 2031.

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